This restaurant was recommended by the owners of our hotel and it didn't disappoint when it comes to dramatic views and sunsets. SPECTACULAR is all I have to say. Unfortunately, it was still a little chilly for us (the temp tends to drop pretty dramatically just after sunset in the late spring when we were there) so we had to eat inside rather than at our incredible table directly on the water. Food was good, but now that I've eaten my way through Greece, it was pretty normal. Nothing to write home about, but still yummy fresh Greek food! Atmosphere is worth every second and penny.. highly recommended.

Though we had never heard of it before, Samos turned out to be an awesome place to start our trip.  It is a decent sized island about 3km from the Turkish port town of Kusadasi.  Due to ferry schedules, we planned to stay about 3 days.  We got in at about 3:30AM on Sunday morning from our 9 hour ferry ride and slept in pretty late.  We woke to an amazing view from the pool deck of our fabulous little family run hotel, which over looks the little town of Vathy (also called Samos).  Very quite, quaint and relaxing, which was perfect.   (See review of hotel for more details... it was AWESOME.)

Gagkou beach was super fun and had some impressive views.   The walk to the beach (about 15 min from center of town) was almost as much fun as being on the beach!  But once at the beach, there are cute restaurants and plenty of chairs.  Beware... rocky beaches, as always!  (i.e. bring shoes, even for water.)

Two restaurants that were fabulous are Thalases and (debatable name.. we can't remember) but we think it is Ametrius.  Both will be reviewed, but Thalases definitely has the upper hand for views, right on the water with incomparable sunsets.  Ametrius however has the upper hand for food - YUM.  Definitely a locals place, which speaks volumes in Greece.

We were a little weary upon arriving to the Virginia Hotel... perhaps because it was 3:30 AM, perhaps because the cab kept driving UP UP UP... but once we met the sweet and wonderful Fotini who was up to greet us, and encountered the incredible views, all doubt was gone. Our fears of being REALLY far from, well, anything, were put aside when we found out there is a rear entrance to the hotel and town is a mere 10 min (or less) walk. The hotel is beautiful, the rooms were charming (and air conditioned) and the pool deck was absolutely spectacular. Breakfast was great too, but we only got down there once! Truly the family was one of the greatest things though. Two sisters pretty much run the place and they are so charming and helpful and fun. I highly recommend Virginia hotel, even if Hotel Samos and others are closer. (We heard Pythagoras Hotel was cool too though....and on the water.)

Nice place to visit on this islnd. The Heraion of Samos was a sanctuary on the Southern region of Samos. Many construction phases are known, the first dating to the 8th century BCE. The first temple was roughly 100 feet long and consisted of three walls and an interior central line of columns to support a roof structure. A much larger temple was built by the architects Rhoikos and Theodoros in 540 BC. The temple stood opposite the cult altar of Hera in her sanctuary. The temple was designated a joint UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the nearby Pythagoreion in 1992. It was a dipteral temple, that is with a portico of columns two deep, which surrounded it entirely. It had a deep square-roofed Pronaos in front of a closed Cella. Cella and Pronaos were divided into three equal aisles by two rows of columns that marched down the Pronaos and through the Temple. The result was that Hera was worshipped in a Temple fitted within a stylized grove of columns, eight across and twenty-one deep. The columns stood on unusual bases that were horizontally fluted. The Heraion of Samos was the first of the gigantic Ionic temples. Unfortunately it stood for only about a decade before it was destroyed, probably by an earthquake. After the destruction of the "Rhoikos temple", an even larger one was built approximately 40m to the West. This temple has the largest known floor plan of any Greek temple and is known as the "Polykrates Temple", named after a tyrant of Samos. One of the giant statues from the Heraion survives in the Samos Archaeological Museum. Very close to Ireon,where You could find cheap hotels.

Here I come - Samos, a Greek Island.  It was a 2-hour ferry ride and I met a British couple on the way.  They were both teachers and were on a month-long holiday. It was a hoot that my Greek passport stamp with the picture of a boat instead of a plane.  That day was really hot.  I got a good tan.  First thing to do after we got off the ferry, find a foreign exchange cash center and eat some 'authentic Gyros.'  The entire lunch cost me about $5 dollars.  Greek money is called Drachma.  My food review of the gyro - YUMMY!

I couldn't really rent a moped (motorbike) to travel around.  Because by the time I could get to the other side of the island, it would be time for the ferry to depart.  Samos also this mini-cho cho train that can take you to part of the island expecially the top of the hill.  It was much breezier there compared to the hot coastline.  I met three teenagers who was stoked that I was from NY.  They said that they are tired of island living, they want to see the 'big bad city' like NYC I guess.

Now, I'm on my street trek to find a bottle of Ouzo (an annize liqour which is good with lemonade) that's on sale.  Checked out about 6 stores and bought it at a small vegetable stand run by two middle-aged Greek women.  The bottle better not break when I get to New York!

The matter of fact is that we was in Turkey - Kushadasi, but Samos is so near Turkey coast. So, there is no exuce for staying in Kushadasi no more.
It was 6:40am when ferry-boat sail out from Kushadasi port. We payed 25 euros for return ticket. Around 11 o'clock we was aproaching to Samos port. This is where the capital of Samos is situated. During our sails near beaches of island we can see Kerkis, the highest mountain in the Aegean. We didn' go up there, but locals tell us that from out there is the great view of the islands of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.
Samos is home of the greatest mathematicians and philosopher in antiquity- Pitagora.

We (me and my girlfriend) have been going two years in a row to Ino Village Hotel in Samos. There was a very nice and informel atmosphere in this hotel. At most of the hotels I've been, I didn't have any idea who the other guests are, what they are doing etc; but in this hotel it was different. Everybody makes a little chat with everybody. Except for the description that already has been given I want to add the following. You have to meet the director of this hotel. He's also the bartender for the evening. He is as crazy as can be and very nice. All the drinks you can imagine, (you name it...) he has it. He doesn't make the drinks in the way that they used do be made, but they're different, maybe even better. My advise: try a tequilla shot (with orange and brown sugar instead of lemon and salt) or a special Mojito (Dimitrinho). He makes very nice cocktails as well and if you don't drink alcohol, you will do after a visit in this resort.

Samos is the nearest island to Turkish coast and it's my favourite one. I love it because, besides its coast line full of beautiful beaches and unexplored idyllic bays (to reach through paths or unsurfaced roads), the whole interior has to be discovered. It's the most green island of Greece with its mountains full of oak grove and eucalypt woods, its wonderful muscat vineyard (a real nectar of gods) and its lovely small villages. I will never forget its variety of colours and the intensity of its perfumes.

Samos has a very important civilization and history. On the island there are important archeological sites both Greek and Roman period, like Hera Temple (where she was born and where she married Jupiter), the Efpalinous tunnel (a very ancient waterworks - 550 b. C.), the ancient theatre, the thermae built by Cleopatra and Anthony, and some others interesting places. Moreover, a lot of Roman emperors (like Augusto, Tiberio, Caligola...) spent lots of summer here, so there are lots of archeological sites still to discover.

Samos is also the place where Pythagoras, the great philosopher, mathematician and astrologer, spent part of his life. You can visit the two caves where he was forced to hide himself for many years to avoid Policrates, the tyrant.

For those who love Greece, Samos will be unforgettable.

We ferry from Kusadasi, Turkey to Samos Greece and stay there for a night...